Is Yao the only NBA player getting constant double team this year?

Shaq, Duncan, and Garnett don't get double teamed because they've reached the level of dominance in which teams just them get their points and make the role players beat them. In Vince Carter's case, the rest of the team is just so horrible that 35 points from Carter is no big deal because the rest of the team can't score...

I haven't watched McGrady or Pierce, but I doubt that they get doubled a lot. Doubling a perimeter player is risky at best, because it puts too many defenders away from the basket. McGrady is getting beaten by zones...

 

They don't respect our perimeter players yet to relax on Yao. As we start to hit more shots from the perimeter and let the other team pay for DT Yao, then you'll see more single coverage on Yao.

 

Perhaps Yao was impressive enough in the preseason to warrant that kind of treatment. 20 points and nearly 70% shooting IIRC.

 

i think so far the double teams have come from weak inside teams,,

against denver and chicago there was less of a double team due to having camby and curry

 

The Rockets were a HORRIBLE shooting team last year. Every team in the league knew this. They also know that the biggest weakness of the team is their propensity for turning the ball over.

Pretty much every team wants to take away the first option of the other team. By doing so, you force your opponent into a situation that is less comfortable and the odds are better they make a mistake, take a bad shot or just plain miss.

If the Rockets continue to shoot like they are now, those double teams on Yao are going to disappear quick. At the moment, the Rockets are absolutely making teams pay for doubling Yao in the post and, at some point, opponents are going to realize that and abandon that philosophy.

I also think that teams watched Memphis and NJ have success againt the Rockets running those defenses. A couple more games of good perimeter shooting and those double teams will evaporate.

 

I think Yao's lack of mobility really limits him. When players like Duncan and Garnett get double teamed, they can always go out and play on the perimeter where it's more difficult to double team. They have the quickness and ball-handling to beat double teams.

Yao is kind of restricted to playing in the exact same spot on the court every time. The other team can pretty much anticipate exactly where Yao will be and gear there defenses to pack it in there.

 

Exactly! This is why we haven't seen the true offense that will emerge after the teams realize this. Then it will be too late - Pike and AG; then MoT and EG's trade value...

 

Its becuse teams feel yao isn't physical enuff if you throw some weight and mucle power on him he will not be able to play well. With duncan, shaq, KG, and others getting physical isnt a factor, IMO

 

Since Van Gundy made Yao the focal point of offense early on, denying him the ball is like disrubting the offense or something like you runied the firt pass in vollyball (is that how they say it?). Anyway, I would rather let 50% shooter beat me then a 60-70% center beat me.

 

If Yao is restricted to the exact same spot, than it's not his fault but the coach's. I disagree that Yao lack mobility. The baseline spin move shows that he can move pretty fast for a big man. Last season, we saw him faced the basket in the corner and blew past his defender driving to the basket. He has handle to dribble past other big man in the league.

Plus, he is a good shooter. He can nail that 18 footer all day long if you leave him. I really think that JVG should position Yao (sometimes, not all the time) at the high post. Let him shoot from there if the defender doesn't come out. Let him pass to cutters, or drive to the hoop if the defender comes out. They should also run more high PnR with Yao and one of the guards.

If your opponent defense is keying on one thing. Then you shouldn't just do that one thing. You should mix it up and make the defense adjust. And that's the coach's job, not Yao's.

(Note: I'm not trying to get Yao off the hook from his obvious weaknesses. I just want to point out something no one in this thread has mentioned.)

 

I am really glad that Mobley is shooting so well. He's at an unbelievable 60+% beyond the arch. Jackson seems to be struggling with his shot. If he's on too, it'll really make the defense pay for sagging on Yao. And hopefully, Pike will come back soon. We need every shooter we have. I'm glad we picked up Padgett too.

BTW, Nachbar is supposed to be another of the shooters. From what we have seen so far, he is very streaky. He'd hit several bombs in a roll. Then he'd put up some consecutive bricks. One thing I like to see him do more is slashing to the basket. That is supposed to be his strong suit. Pop some from outside. And pump fake and slash. With his height and speed, he should be a perfect cutter. Do some give and go with up top.

 

Good points Easy. Yao's game is limited by his role on this team. JVG wants him to initiate the offense and get inside points, leave the outside shots to the shooters. If we lacked outside scorers, I'd imagine that role takes a turn. It'd more outside shots for Yao. Yao is now chained in the post. That would somewhat hurt his stats, but is a good thing because he needs to become a great post up player.

 

mcgrady is too... and he's a crybaby saying he wants to quit

 

I don't watch the Lakers or Spurs, so someone tell me this: How do Shaq and Duncan get the ball consistently in the paint? What strategies do they use, and why can't we do the same?

If it's because Francis and Mobley simply aren't good at passing to the post, then maybe a change is in order. It's ok to have ONE guy not passing into the post, as long as he's special (Francis). But when you have a role player doing the same (Mobley) it's not helping.

Apparently Pike is good at getting the ball into the post, so we'll see how that works out.


But, really, tell me, how come Duncan and Shaq get the ball so easily and consistently?

 

Rockets dont use YAo as O'neal or Duncam.Yao is used to pass the ball outside.but O'neal will dunk the ball if he gets the ball.So Yao must be defended before he gets the ball.

 

Yao was single covered last night by Danny Fortson and bricked every shot he took. Yao had a bigger height advantage over Fortson than I have over my 10 year old daughter. Yao is not ready to dominate yet and I hope for the Rockets sake that our opponents don't stop double teaming him because we might see more games like last night against the Mavs.

 

I don't care what he's used for. I didn't ask why he doesn't score as much.

Someone please tell me. Why can't we get the ball in Yao's hands as EARLY and EFFICIENTLY as the Spurs and Lakers do with Duncan and Shaq.

I could care less if he shot, passed, turned it over, threw it at the referee, threw it at Cuttino Mobley's face...

I just want to know why we can't play EXACTLY like the Spurs. Low post big man, quick PG, complimentary players.

I think Mobley is the root of all the Rockets' problems. Why can't he gather 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game? Why can't he average the same numbers as Brent Barry, Manu Ginobili, Doug Christie, Derek Anderson, or even a better Aaron Mckie?